I am a little distant from the 'rumour mill' at present, but I would love to see 'Triumphant Rhapsody' or 'Variations on a ninth', chosen for first section bands in the near future.
I am sure that some top section bands would still struggle to colour these pieces successfully.

Triumphant Rhapsody was the 1st section finals piece in 2009 so we're unlikely to see that again any time soon.
Variations on a Ninth hasn't been set for anything in at least 10 years, and its actually the only piece I've heard rumoured for 1st section so far this year, so who knows.......?!

Incidental music for a Carry-On film... Few band pieces have dated as badly as Variations on a Ninth, in my opinion... Quite enjoy Vinter, in a sort of 60s way, normally, but this one just makes my teeth curl.

Would be an interesting one, JR. Looking at the list of past pieces, I see that, prior to last year's new work, Vivat!, we had Frank Wright's Force of Destiny arrangement (1962), Diversions on a Bass Theme (1986), and Triumphant Rhapsody (1965) back to back. Not sure whether that means that we're due a return to something older or not...

Incidental music for a Carry-On film... Few band pieces have dated as badly as Variations on a Ninth, in my opinion... Quite enjoy Vinter, in a sort of 60s way, normally, but this one just makes my teeth curl.

Click to expand...

I can only speak a personal level, the Euph part is a joy to play. The opening triple tonguing on the Cornet ranks, into some fine cadenzas, followed by some heart warming melodic sections. What is there not to like (imperfect cadences?)
Vinter at his best.

For me, it doesn't hang together very well - the chopping between variations quickly becomes formulaic, especially when the musical development is as closely tied to the eponymous 9th chord as it is, which even on its own projects something of a distinctly 1960s musical vibe. The cadenzas must have seemed a fresh idea in 1964, but they've been slandered by what came after, and now seem just one more entry in a long series of band pieces that use and abuse the device musically. Some variations also just feel to me a bit like musical filler - noodling around on the theme without really going anywhere. Sorry, but you did ask! Personally, it doesn't do much for me - although obviously it presses the right buttons for a lot of people.

Now, for me Spectrum is a decent piece... And Salute to Youth is quite fun.

[Incidentally Mark, I admired your posts in the Thatcher thread. Mean to mention it there, but didn't have anything worth saying at the time.]